Brake for road vehicles



7 J 7, 1933. o; D. NORTH EI'AL 1,915,547

BRAKE FOR ROAD VEHICLES Filed March 18. 1930 Aa r Q WZ" rromvgys.

reaction efiect as it is driven by the central rotor into the pockets of the outer stators and is returned to the central rotor in a difierent direction.

' The said casing can be free to swivel about the shaft and for this purpose the circulatin pipes would be flexible. Should the norms. speed of the driving shaft or other rotary part of the vehicle be too low for. the purpose of the efiiciency of the power absorb device the said device may have itsown s aft and a suitable arrangement of gear wheels or their equivalent employed to connect the desired rotary of the device. By means of the present invention the safe- .ty of heavy vehicles is materialy increased, and onl a simple and instantaneous action is require to bring into immediate operation the equivalent of a; highly eflicient brake. The invention may be applied to trailer as well as driven vehicles.

In order that our-invention may be readily understood and carried into efiect, we have a pehnded hereto a sheet of drawing, in

Fi 1 illustrates diagrammatically a method 0 applying this invention to a heavy motor vehicle operated by an internal combustion engine and in which the dynamometer brake is adapted to operate in conjunction with the water circulating and cooling systern of the engine. I Fig. 2 is a sectional illustrah'on' of a known type of dynamometer brake suitable for use in connection with our invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modification in which the dynamometer brake is coupled to the driving shaft of the vehicle through the medium of suitable gearing, and

F 4 shows a modification of the water circ ating system in which an auxiliary pump is employed to assist circulation of water in connection with the brake! Fig. 5 illustrates an arrangement of control valves. Referring to Fig. 1, the dynamo'meter brake 1 of any suitable known construction is mounted upon a suitable'moving part 0 the vehicle such for instance as the main transmission shaft 2 so that the rotor of the dynamometer 1- will always be turning on its axis when the motor vehicle is moving. The dynamometer 1 is coupled to' the-usual water circulating system of the engine 3 so that water may be supplied to the brake when in operation, and so that the heat absorbed by the water by the braking action set up will be circulated throu h the engine radiator 4 so as to dissipate t e heat and keep, down 7 the temperature of the water and the parts of thebrake toa suitable working tempera- In the arrangement illustrated in Fi the ynamometer brake 1 cgupled to? part of the vehicle to the shaft.

1, the.

water circulating system of the en e 3 by means-of suitable pipes 5 and 6. Tli d pipe 5 connects the water inlet 7 of the dynamometer brake 1 with the water supply pipe 8 through which water from the bottom water tank 9 of the radiator 4 is supplied to thecylinder jackets of the engine 3 by way of supply pipes 10 and a suitable water pump 11. ,The water outlet of the dynamometer brake 1 is connected by the pipe 6 to the upper water tank 12 of the radiator 4 in a suitable manner for instance by way of the water outlet pipe 14 of the engine 3. The pipe 6 may if desired be provided with gills or other form of radiating surface 15 to assist in dissipatin the heat absorbed by the water in the ynamometer brake 1. A suitable valve 16 is arranged inthe pipe 5 where it j oiris the pipes 8 and 10 of the engine circulating system, and a valve 17 is arranged in the pipe 6; These valves 16 and 17 are arranged to control the circulation of water from the engine circulating system through the dynamometer brake 1 when this is requiredto operate for the purose of retarding the motion of the vehicle.

or this purpose the valves 16 and 17 may be connected together by a light rod 18, and a second rod 19 connects them to a brake pedal 20. When the brake pedal 20 is operated, the valve 17 will be opened so as to connect the pipe 6 leading from the outlet of the dynamometer brake 1 to the water outlet pipe 14 of the engine 3, and from thence to the upper water tank 12 'of the radiator B At the same time the valve 16 will be operated so as to'connect the pipe 5 with the outlet pipe 10 leading from the water circulating pump 11 and which in turn draws Water from the lower water tank 90f the radiator 4. The valve 16 also acts to cut off the con- 195 nection of the pipe 10 withv the pipe ing into the Water jacket of the engine 8 leadthat water circulated by the pump 11 will pass directly along the pipe 5 to the inlet 7 of the dynamometer brake 1. Water will 119 thus be circulated by the pump 11 through thedyna'mometerbrake 1 and from thence it will pass out along the pipe 6 through the valve 17 to the engine outlet pipe 14 in the upper water tank 12 of the radiator 4, and from thence it will pass through the radiator a to the lower water tank 9, and back to the pump 11 so that a continuous Water circulation will be maintained through the dynamometer brake 1. When thehrake edal 20 is released, the valve 17 will be close and the valve'16 will cut ofi the pipe 5 from the water pump outlet 10 and will couple the water pump outlet to the engine water inlet pipe 8. The water will then be circulated by the pump 11 through the pipe 10, water inlet pipe 8 to the cylinder jacket of the engine, and from thence through the water outlet pipe 14 to the upper tank 1201? the radiator 4, through which it passes to the lower tank- 9 15 or alternately in the pipe 6.

and back to the pump -11. The water will then be circulated through the engine and radiator in the usual normal manner and the 'ing pump may be so arranged by the pipe 6a to tank 12 of the radiator 4 for instance by way engine cooling system will be out ofi from the dynamometer brake by the valves 16 and 17. When the valves 16 and 17 are moved to cut off the dynamometer brake 1 from the cooling system of the engine, the continued rotation of the rotor oi the brake will expel the water from the brake casing through valve 17. The brake will then run dry and be inoperative. If desired an auxiliary water tank 21 may be coupled in any suitable part of the system such for instance as in a convenient position along the length of'the pipe If desired an auxiliary additional or separate water pump may be employed 03611- culating the water through the dynamometer brake land this additional water circulatthat its inlet side will be coupled to the outlet of the dynamometer brake 1 so as to extract the water therefrom and to tend to Keep the dynamometer brake in a dry state (that 1s free from water) braking purposes, An addltlonal aumhary pump 22 is shown in Fig. 4 mounted in llne with the engine water plump 11 and coupled thereto by a driving s aft 23and suitable flexible couplings. pump 22 may be coupled by the pipe 6 to the outlet from the dynamometer brake, whilst the delivery side of the pump may be coupled deliver thewater to the top of the enginewater outlet pipe 14.

A suitable checkornon-return valve may be located in any convenient position 1n the pipes leading to or from the dynamometer I brake.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated dia rammatically the construction of a suitable own type of dynamometer brake 1. In this apparatus a rotor is mounted on the shaft 2 and suitably shaped pockets 31 are arranged upon 0pposite faces of the rotor 30. In the two halves of the casing of the dynamometer are provided suitable fixed rings 32 and these are provided with pockets 33 arranged substantially opposite to and correspondm wlththe pockets '31 in the rotor 30. Suite. le inlets and outlets allow water to pass into and circulate through the spaces provided by the pockets in the rotor 30 and the" stationary parts 31. In action the rotor discharges water at high speed into the pockets 1n the easing from which it is returned at a reduced speed. This results in the creation of vortices which absorb and destroy power and retard themotion of therotor, thus effooting the braking action on the part of the vehicle to which it is connected. 7 I

In Fig. 3 is illustrateddiagrammatically an arrangement by which the dynamometer when not in operation for The suction side of the brake 1 is mounted upon a lay shaft 40 supported in hearings in brackets 41 mounted upon the side member 42 of the vehicle frame. The lay shaft 40.is driven'from a suitable partof the vehicle through any suitable gearing so as to cause it to rotate at an increased speed. In the arrangement shown this cared up drive is effected by means of a suita 1e tooth gear 43 mounted on the transmission shaft 44 behind the gear box 45 and gears with a pinion 46 on the lay shaft 40 thus causing the dynamometer to be driven at a greater speed than the transmission shaft of the vehicle. This arrangement is particularly intended for use in connection with road vehicles having a low average road speed, such that the transmission shaft would normally rotate at a speed at which the ,eiiiciency of the dynamometer brake would not be very high. By gearing up therate at which the dynamometer is driven its efliciency may be maintained for slow moving vehicles.

Brakes for vehicles constructed and operating according to our invention provide an efiective means for retarding the motion of heavy vehicles, and enable the brake to be ma ntamed 1n operatlon for long periods without overheating. The utilization of wabrake in retarding the vehicle to be dissipated through the usual engine radiator and ensures that there will at all times be a proper supply of water available for the (lynamometer brake to ensure eflicient braking action when required.

We'claim 1- 1. A brake system for a vehicle comprising in combination a dynamometer brake coupled to a moving portion of the vehicle so as to be'driven thereby, the said brake being adapted to be filled with water, a prime moverhaving a water circulating or delivery system, means adapted to connect said brake with'said water circulating or delivery system, means adapted to be actuated to divert a stream of water passing to the prime mover to the brake-t0 cause the water to circulate therethrough or to cut oil the circulation of water to the brake and restore the circulation through or delivery to the prime mover when braking action is not required, and

means for cooling the fluid after its passage to. drive the water or other fluid through saidcirculating or delivery system, means adapted to connect. said brake with said water circulating or delivery system on the delivery side of thepump, means adapted to be actuated to divert a stream of water passing to the prime mover to the brake to cause the water to circulate therethrough or to cut off the. circulation of water to the brake and restore the circulation through or delivery to the prime mover when brakin action is not required, and means for cooling the fluid after its passage through the brake.

3. A brake system for a vehicle comprising in combination a dynamometer brake coupled to a moving portion of the vehicle so as to be driven thereby the said brake he ing adapted to be filled with fluid, say water, by agitation of which heat is generated, a prime mover having a water or other fluid circulating or delivery system, a ump adapted to drive the water or other uid through said circulating or delivery system, a heat radiator in said circulating or delivery systern adapted to dispel the heat in the circulating or like fluid, means adapted to connect said brake with said water circulating or delivery system on the delivery side of the pump, means adapted to be actuated to divert a stream of water passing to the prime mover to the brake to cause the water to circulate therethrough or to cut oil' the circulation of water to the brake and restore the circulation through or delivery to the prime mover when braking action is not required, and means for cooling the fluid after its passage through the brake.

4. A brake system for a vehicle comprising in combination a dynamometer brake coupled to a moving portion of the vehicle so as to be driven thereby, the said brake being adapted to be filled with fluid by agitation of which heat is generated, means for circulatingsaid fluid through the brake, radiating means associated with said fluid circulating means for giving off the heat from the fluid after its passage through the brake and means for extracting fluid from the brake tending fluid.

5. A brake system for a vehicle compristo keep the brake free from ing in combination a dynamometer brake coupled to .a moving portion of the vehicle so as to be driven thereby the said brake being adapted to be filled with water, a rime mover having a water circulating or de ivery system, a pump adapted to drive the water or other fluid through said circulating or delivery system, means adapted to connect said brake with said water circulating or delivery system on the delivery side of the pump, means adapted to be actuated to direct a stream of water through the circulating system or through the pump, and an additional or an auxiliary pump having its inlet conto be actuated to direct nected to the water outflow side of the brake and adapted to drain water therefrom.

6. A brake stem for a vehicle comprising in combination a dynamometer brake coupled to a movin portion of the vehicle so as to be driven tflereby the said brake being adapted to be filled with water, a prime mover having a water circulating or delivery syste'm,a ump adapted to drive the water or other uid through said circulating or delivery system, means adapted to connect said brake with said Water circulatin or delivery system on the delivery side 0 the pump, a valve in said circulating system at the point of'counection to the pump adapted stream of water through the circulating system or through the pump, an additional or an auxiliary pump havin its inlet connected to the water outflow side of the brake and adapted to drain water therefrom, means for cooling the water delivered from said additional or auxiliary pump and means for returning the cooled water to the prime mover circulating system.

7. A brake system for a vehicle comprising in combination a dynamometer brake coupled to a moving portion of the vehicle so as to be driven thereby, the said brake being adapted to be filled with water, a prime mover having a water circulating or delivery system, a pump adapted to drive the water or other fluid through said circulating or delivery system, means adapted to connect said brake with said water circulating or delivery system on the delivery side of the ump, a valve in said circulating system at t e point of connection to the pump adapted to be actuated to direct a stream of water through the circulatin system or through the pump, an additionalor an auxiliary pump having its inlet connected to the water outflow side of the brake and adapted to drain Water therefrom, a radiator in said prime mover circulating system and a connection from the delivery side of the'said additional or auxiliary brake to the inlet side of said radiator. 8. A brake system for a Vehicle comprising in combination a dynamometer brake of which the casing is adapted to be filled with fluid, vanes or the like in said brake casing adapted to be rotated to agitate said fluid to absorb energy, means for rotating said vanes, a pump adapted to deliver water to the brake when it is required to operate, an additional or auxiliary pump adapted to extract water from the brake casing tending to keep the brake dry.

9. A brake system for a vehicle comprising in combination a dynamometer brake of which the casing is adapted to be filled with fluid, vanes or like in said brake casin rotatably carried on a shaft passing throug the brake casing said shaft being adapted to be rotated whenever the driving wheels of the vehicle move, whereby the vanes are actuated to agitate the fluid in the brake casing to absorb the kinetic energy of the vehicle, a ump adapted to deliver water to the brake w en it is required to operate, means tending to keep the brake dry, and means for cooling said fluid after its passage through the brake.

10. A brake system for a vehicle comprising in combinations. dynamometer brake of which the casing is adapted to be filled with fluid, vanes or like in said brake casing, adapted to be rotated to agitate said fluid to absorb energy, means for rotating said vanes, pockets in said brake casing co-operating with said vanes, means for delivering fluid through the brake when it is required to opp crate, and means tending to keep the brake 11. A brake system for a vehicle comprising in comhinatlon a dynamometer brake oi which the casing is adapted to he filled with fluid, a power unit adapted to drive said vehicle, vanesor like carried on a shaft within said casing and adapted to be rotated when the driving wheels rotate and co-operating with pockets in the casing to agitate flui to absorb the kinetic energy of the vehicle, a pump adapted to deliver water to the brake when it is required to operate, an additional or auxiliary pump adapted to extract water from the brake casing, tending to keep the brake dry, both said pumps being adapted to be driven by the said power unit, and a fluid circulating or delivery system associated with said power unit comprising said first named pump and a radiator, a connection to the fluid circulating or delivery system from the brake casing on the delivery side of said pump, a valve at the point of connectionef the circulatin system and the pump adapted to be actuate to direct a stream of water through the circulating system or through the pump, and a connectlon from the delivery side of the additional or aum'liary pump to ermit the delivery of water to the radiator. 12. In a brake system for a vehicle, a dynamometer brake driven from a power driven portion of the vehicle, means adapted to connect said brake to a liquid circulating system and means to divert a stream'of liquid assing to the engine of the vehicle to the rake to cause the liquid to circulate throu h the brake or to cut ofi the circulation 0 liquid to the brake and restore the delivering to the engine when braking action is not 1' uired.

' fiLIV'ER DANSON NORTH.

PERCY GARIBALDI HUGH. 

